CPABC Board Member Overview

CPABC Board Member Overview

The CPABC Board’s purpose is to manage and direct CPABC pursuant to the Act and Bylaws. The CPABC Board will direct the business and financial affairs of CPABC by:

1. Setting policies and delegating authority to Governance Committees, Chief Executive Office, Self-Regulatory Committees and/or Board Task Forces.
2. Setting the direction and policies to accomplish CPABC responsibilities.

Board members are required to participate in:

• As many Board meetings as possible, but not less than two thirds (67%) of meetings
• CPABC Annual General Meeting
• CPABC Strategic Planning Retreats

Attendance at special events such as convocation, one of the leadership conferences, and at least one chapter event is encouraged. 

Desired Board Composition

In support of the four essentials articulated below, in addition to the nomination form, a skills and diversity matrix was developed by the Board to provide a more specific framework with which to identify gaps in representation, and, therefore, the most sought-after skills, attributes, and diversity makeup for incoming board members. This the year the board has introduced a formal interview process, which, with the assistance of an independent external consultant, will take place for all candidates putting their names forward for election to further enrich and broaden the board’s skill set.

The interview’s purpose is to identify to the membership those candidates who most closely align with the skills, competencies, and diversity being sought by the board.

It is the board’s goal to ensure, as much as is possible, that its make-up accurately reflects the diversity of the membership, including such considerations as gender, culture, and experience. In addition, the board will aim to have representation from a cross-section of industry sectors, including small, medium, and large enterprises, government, education, and public practice.

There are four essential qualities for candidates for the Board:

1. Vision
   The capacity to contribute to and adopt a shared vision for the profession, for CPABC, and for the Board’s work.
    
2. Objectivity
   The ability to put aside personal interests for the interests of the organization. Candidates should be willing to listen attentively, and engage in objective, constructive dialogue, always with the best interests of and fiduciary duty for CPABC in mind.
    
3. Commitment
   An ideal candidate should acknowledge and accept the following as their personal commitment towards fulfilling responsibilities and maintaining effectiveness on the Board;
   • Have a positive interest in CPABC and its governance;
   • Understand their fiduciary duty to help CPABC achieve the objects of the Act, which include:
      
     1. to promote and maintain the knowledge, skill and proficiency of members and students in the practice of accounting
     2. to establish qualifications and requirements for admission as a member and continuation of membership, and for enrollment and continuation of enrollment of students;
     3. to regulate all matters, including competency, fitness and professional conduct, relating to the practice of accounting by members, students, professional accounting corporations and registered firms;
     4. to establish and enforce professional standards; and
     5. to represent the interests of members and students.
         
   • Be properly prepared for and attend every Board meeting and the Annual General Meeting; 
   • Be aware of the Governance Policies of CPABC; 
   • Be prepared to serve on a committee of the Board;
   • Be knowledgeable of the CPABC Directional Plan and Operational Plan and Budget (each approved annually by the Board);
   • Act with honesty and uphold the highest ethical standards so that public confidence and trust in the CPA designation and the profession is preserved and enhanced.
      
4. Exemplary Professional and Personal Conduct
   Board members must:
   • Have a solid understanding of the vital role of CPABC in protecting the public interest.
   • Have demonstrated adherence to the profession’s standards of professional and ethical conduct.
   • Have demonstrated professional competencies in their area of accountancy, and in the case of members engaged in public practice, satisfied the practice review requirements of CPABC or its predecessors.
   • Have impeccable personal and business affiliations.
   • Be of good character and commit to conducting themselves in such a manner as to protect and uphold the image and reputation of their fellow members, the CPA designation, CPABC, and the profession at large.

Why We Serve